“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” — Philippians 4:6 (BSB)
“But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…’” — Matthew 6:6, 9 (BSB)
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.” — Romans 8:26 (BSB)
Prayer is possible only because of Christ, our Mediator and High Priest. I come to the Father through the Son, and by the Holy Spirit, who helps me pray when I do not know how. The Scriptures guide my prayers, and the Church’s tradition teaches me how to pray faithfully and reverently.
Canon Dr. Joel Scandrett (Trinity School for Ministry) writes, “Prayer is the Church’s heartbeat. It is our lifeline to God, our offering of love, and our participation in His eternal communion.”
Bishop Julian Dobbs (Diocese of the Living Word, ACNA) explains, “Prayer is not performance—it is dependence. The faithful Christian prays not because he has strength, but because he knows he does not.”
The 1662 Book of Common Prayer shapes Anglican life around prayer, from Morning and Evening Prayer to the Psalms, Collects, and intercessions. It teaches us to pray with reverence, humility, and joyful expectation, grounded in Scripture and the promises of Christ.
J.C. Ryle wrote, “Prayer is the pulse of the Christian life. Where there is no prayer, there is no spiritual life. A praying man will stop sinning, or a sinning man will stop praying.” (Practical Religion, 1878)
Archbishop Foley Beach (ACNA) has said, “Prayer is not a duty to be checked off—it is a relationship to be entered into. It is where we meet with God and are changed.”
Prayer glorifies Christ because it expresses our dependence on Him, draws us into His presence, and aligns our hearts with His will.
St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD): “Prayer is a mighty weapon, a treasure that is never exhausted, a fountain that never runs dry. It is the root of all blessings.” — Homily on Matthew, 19
St. Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215 AD): “Prayer is keeping company with God. It draws the soul upward and brings heaven into the heart.” — Stromata, VII.7
St. Basil the Great (c. 330–379 AD): “We should pray not with empty words, but with a heart on fire. Let every breath become prayer, and every act be rooted in devotion.” — Homily on the Martyr Julitta
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
St. Thomas Church
PO Box 873
Abbotsford, BC,
V2T 7A2, Canada
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
